Finally, we urgently need to invest in development of #StrepA vaccines to prevent these life-threatening infections as well as other #StrepA diseases like #RHD.

tiny.cc/63vt001

We think this might provide a biological basis for the 2022 to 2023 upsurge in severe #StrepA infections in young children.

More importantly, it underscores the vulnerability of young children to dangerous #StrepA infections.

Key messages:

Children aged 3-4 were ~1 year behind in #StrepA immunity after the pandemic

This is the age group that experienced the greatest increase in life-threatening Strep A in 2022-23.

We saw substantial changes in detection of common pathogens like #StrepA during the pandemic as previously reported.

We measured #StrepA antibodies in samples from children recruited to the PERFORM and DIAMONDS studies before and after the pandemic.

We focused on the group who were as representative as possible of children in the wider population excluding those with definite bacterial and viral infections.

I’m hugely grateful to the many people who contributed, especially the @horizoneu.bsky.social funded DIAMONDS and PERFORM studies

Key additional funding from @wellcometrust.bsky.social
@ukri.org

Important support from @imperialinfect.bsky.social and @imperialbrc.bsky.social and many others.